9 February 2026 · 7 min read
9K vs 14K vs 18K gold grillz: which karat to choose
9K gold grillz are the most affordable and hardest-wearing of the three, priced from A$430 per tooth; 14K sits in the middle at A$590 per tooth with a richer colour; 18K is the softest and most golden at A$780 per tooth. White, yellow and rose gold all cost the same price at the same karat, so the choice comes down to colour and how the set will be worn day to day.
What karat actually measures
Karat describes how much of the metal is pure gold, out of 24 parts. 9K gold is 9 parts gold to 15 parts other metals, 14K is 14 parts gold, and 18K is 18 parts gold. The higher the karat, the more gold is in the mix — and the softer and richer in colour the metal becomes.
For grillz, which sit in the mouth and get far more daily handling than a ring or a chain, that trade-off between colour and hardness matters more than it might for other jewellery — especially with Sydney's warm, humid summers putting sets through more wear.
9K gold — A$430 per tooth
9K is the hardest of the three karats we offer and the most resistant to scratching and wear, which makes it a sensible choice for a set you'll wear often, including over a Sydney summer. It has a lighter, slightly more muted gold colour than 14K or 18K because it contains less pure gold.
It's also the most affordable gold option we make, at A$430 per tooth, which is why it's the karat most first-time gold buyers choose.
14K gold — A$590 per tooth
14K sits in the middle on every measure: colour, hardness and price. It has a noticeably warmer, richer gold tone than 9K while still holding up well to regular wear. At A$590 per tooth, it's the karat most people settle on for a set they plan to wear regularly rather than keep for occasions.
18K gold — A$780 per tooth
18K has the deepest, most saturated gold colour of the three because it contains the most pure gold. That extra purity makes it the softest of the three karats, so it will show wear a little sooner with very heavy daily use. At A$780 per tooth, it's the choice most people make when colour and richness matter more than everyday durability.
Colour: white, yellow and rose
Within each karat, you can choose white, yellow or rose gold at no price difference — the colour comes from which other metals are mixed with the pure gold, not from how much gold is used, so it doesn't change the per-tooth price at any karat.
Adding stones
All three karats can be combined with moissanite or diamond. Per-tooth prices for the most popular combinations are 9K + moissanite at A$590, 9K + VS lab diamond at A$760, 14K + VVS lab diamond at A$950, and 18K + VVS lab diamond at A$1,200. Natural diamond versions cost more again — see our full price list for every combination.
Questions people ask
Which karat of gold grillz lasts longest?
9K is the hardest-wearing of the three karats we offer because it contains the least pure gold and the most of the harder alloy metals, making it the most resistant to everyday scratching.
Is 18K gold worth the extra cost?
18K has the richest, most saturated gold colour of the three, which is why many people choose it. It's softer than 9K or 14K, so it's a trade-off between colour and day-to-day durability rather than a straightforward upgrade.
Does white gold cost more than yellow gold?
No. White, yellow and rose gold are priced the same at the same karat — colour doesn't change the per-tooth price.
Ready to book a fitting?
Tell us the teeth you want covered and your metal of choice, and we'll come back with a quote and a realistic timeline.